支払い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 支払い is read as しはらい and is a noun for making a payment or for a payment amount or obligation that is due.
• Basic usage: Use カードで支払いを済ませる for completing payment by a method and 支払いは来月 for its schedule.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Act and schedule
  • A meal context focuses on the act of paying, while a construction fee context focuses on an obligation scheduled for payment.
• Method marked by で
  • In カードで, で marks the means used to pay, not the recipient or object of the payment.